The Bond
She is black, and I am white
Yet we've bonded this past night
our races not an issue here -
For she was my patient dear.
We shared spirit of one another,
and I somehow remind her of her mother
Who two years now is gone from earth
not here, now, to have blessed the birth
of the tiny babe who passed today
out of our world, to heaven's way...
She is black, and I am white
Yet we've gained covenant in her plight
as I helped her in her pain
our human-ness was bared and plain.
Her humor, so very like to mine
kept bravely front all through this time
She called my name as spasm gripped
and all differences in our lives were stripped
down to the bones - her, wide-eyed with fear...
This night, she was my patient dear.
She is black, and I am white
our differences are clear, but slight
I spoke to her of grief impending
as her daughter's life was ebbing
Her kind gathered in this gloom
and welcomed me within that room
Not just as nurse, but woman, too -
Maternal figures, all attuned
to the silent child now resting here...
Her mother was my patient dear.
(c)K.E.Cline, 01 June 1997 - for Angela & her baby girl